Six charged in South Roxana heroin ring

SOUTH ROXANA — Six suspects who lived in the same apartment complex face charges after a months-long investigation of a heroin distribution ring linked to drug sales throughout Madison County.

According to a South Roxana Police Department press release, the following individuals were charged in the case:

Chelsea L. Schollmeier, 24, was charged with one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 2 felony; one count of unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class X felony; and one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a class 1 felony.

Kenneth Rice, 21, was charged with one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 2 felony; one count of unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class X felony; and one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 1 felony.

Joshua Coons, 36, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 1 felony.

Serena Jeffers, 40, was charged with one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 2 felony; one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 1 felony.

William “Bill” Jeffers, 40, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; and one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, a Class 1 felony.

Allora Stratton, 24, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Bonds were set at $250,000 for Schollmeier and Rice, $100,000 for Serena and William Jeffers, $75,000 for Coons and $25,000 for Stratton.

All of the suspects formerly lived at Connor Place Apartments. Police said Schollmeier and Rice, who lived together and have a dating relationship, supplied heroin to drug dealers throughout Madison County and had numerous tenants from the complex involved in the distribution of heroin.

The South Roxana Police Department conducted several controlled narcotics purchases of heroin from the apartment complex, which is within 1,000 feet of government housing.

A search warrant was executed on Jan. 12, 2015, by the South Roxana Police Department on the apartment complex where heroin, ledger books and other items linked to the distribution of heroin were recovered.

Serena and William Jeffers are married and William Jeffers is on parole for arson.

Police said all of the suspects were released pending lab results and have been evicted by the apartment complex. Schollmeier and Rice relocated to Cottage Hills, Serena and William Jeffers are homeless, Coons’ whereabouts are unknown and Stratton is living in Wood River.

“A case of this magnitude required the teamwork of the entire department,” the police department press release states. “Sgt. Davis is the responsible officer for taking a proactive approach to the narcotic information received about drugs being sold from the Connor Place Apartments. His hard work and determination led to the results of being able to charge the above-mentioned people who conspired to sell heroin in our town.”